Boll weevil exterminating machine



Nov. 27, 1945'. e. L. M cAY 2,389,677

BOLL WEEVIL EXTERMINATING MACHINE Filed 'June 30, 1942 I Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Nov. 27, 1945. e. L. M CAY v BOLL WEEVIL EXTERMINATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1942 gaciflnfll QM Nov. 27, 1945. G. M cAY BOLL WEEVIL EXTERMINATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 30, 1942 r Nov. 27,1945. G. L. .M cAY BOLL-WEEVIL EXTERMINATING Mai CHINE Filed June 30, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 27, 1945 UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOLL WEEVIL *EXTERMINATING MACHINE Gadi L. may, Utica, Miss.

Application dune 30, 1942, Serial No. 449,144

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new'and useful improvements in machines of the suction type for 'exterminating boll weevils and other insects, and has for its primar object to'p'ro'vide an apparatus or this character which is adapted to be expeditiously mounted for operation on a conventional tractor and driven from the usual power take-01f thereof without the necessit of making material structural alterations in said tractor.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a boll weevilexterminating machine of the aforementioned character which is adapted to be conveniently adjusted to "meet various conditions.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a boil weevil exterminating machine of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, and which may be manufactured at "low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study or the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, showing an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted for operation on a tractor.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a View in bottom plan of the front portion of the apparatus,

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the portion of the apparatus which is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a View in side elevation of the central portion of the suction fan.

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section through the rotary connection between the suction conduit and the fan.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary View in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 'I! of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a detail view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a centrifugal suction fan I. The fan I is removably mounted on one side of a tractor 2 through the medium of a supporting structure 3, said supporting structure including a transverse member 4 which is secured to the frame of the tractor, a frame 5,

suitable braces 3, et cetera. The fan i is driven from the usual power take-off of the tractor 2 through a belt and pulley connection I. A gravity operated tightener 8 is mountedifor swinging movement in a vertical plane on the'supporting structure 3 and is operatively engagedwith the drive belt "I.

A suction conduit 9 is pivotall connected, at one end, to the intake I0 inthe casing III of the fan I for swinging movement in a vertical plane. Toward this end, the conduit 9 has fixed thereon-a collar I3. A ring 12 is secured to the fan casing II and is engageable with the collar l3 for rotatably securing the conduit '9 to said fan casing. This is shown to advantage .in Figure 6 of the drawings. The collar I3retains the conduit 9 against movement toward or away from the fan casing H.

Branches I5 extend at right angles from the forward end of the conduit 9. The branches 1'15 include downturned elbows I5. A slip connection H in each branch I5 permits adjustment to vary the distance between hoods to be presently described, as required for different widths of rows and as generally disclosed in the U. S. patent .to R. C. Bartlett, No. 1,060,417, dated April29, S1913.

Flexible tubes I8 are secured by bands I'9 "to the elbows I6 and depend therefrom. Intake hoods 2B are connected with the flexible tubes I8 through the medium of bands 2i. The intake hoods 20 are substantially rectangular in bottom plan. Removably mounted beneath the rear portions of the intake hoods 20 are pans 22 for catching boll weevils and other insects that may be brushed off the cotton plants.

Guides 23 are mounted on the opposite sides of the intake hoods 20. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 8 of the drawings, pins 24 extend between the guides 23 and the intake hoods 20. The guides 23 are for the reception of hangers 25 which are pivotally suspended from the elbows I6. The hangers 25 include series of hooks 26 which are engageable with the pins 24 for releasably securing or supporting the intake hoods 20 in adjusted position.

A cable 21 is provided for raising and lowering the conduit 9 with the intake hoods 20, et cetera. The cable 21 is trained over a pulley 28 on the supporting structure 3 and is connected to the hand lever 29 adjacent the operators seat 30 on the tractor 2.

Connected to the exhaust of the fan I is a discharge pipe 3l. The discharge pipe 3| extends rearwardly on the tractor 2 and is provided with a suitable support 32. Mounted on the rear end of the discharge pipe 3| for receiving boll weevils, et cetera, therefrom is a screen receptacle 33. A pressure opened, gravity closed check valve 34 is provided in the discharge pipe 3|.

It is thought that the operation of the machine will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the fan I in operation, the tractor 2 is driven over the ground with the intake hoods 20 dragging across the tops of the two rows of cotton plants. In this manner boll weevils and other insects are removed from the cotton plants and drawn into the fan I from which they are discharged through the pipe 3| into the receptacle 33. A vent at 3'5 permits regulation of the suction in the conduit 9. While the machine is in operation, the intake hoods 20 may be raised and lowered as desired through the medium of the cable 21. These intake hoods 20 are also adapted to be adjusted vertically on the hangers 25, the flexible tubes l8 permitting this. As hereinbefore mentioned, the slip joints or connections I! permit adjustment of the intake hoods 20 for width.

It is believed that the many advantages of a boll weevil exterminating machine constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A boll weevil exterminating attachment for a motor vehicle provided with a rear drivers seat and having a power-driven shaft extending to one side thereof, comprising a centrifugal suction fan, means to rigidly mount said fan on the vehicle at said side and forwardly of and above said shaft, said fan havin an inlet at the outer side thereof and a drive shaft projecting at the inner side of the same, means to provide a driving connection between said shafts, a vertically swingable suction conduit having a lateral rear end swiveled to the side inlet of the fan and provided at its forward end with a depending intake conduit arranged to be located in front of the vehicle and provided with a bottom intake hood, said intake conduit being adjustable in length to regulate the distance of the intake hood from the ground, means to releasably retain the intake conduit in any adjusted position, means arranged for operation from the drivers seat and connected to the forward end of the suction conduit for adjustably swinging the latter up or down and correspondingly raising or lowering the intake conduit and its hood, a discharge pipe extendin rearwardly from the fan, and an insect collection receptacle on the rear end of said discharge pipe.

2. A boll weevil exterminating attachment for a motor vehicle provided with a rear drivers seat and having a power-driven shaft extending to one side thereof, comprising a centrifugal suction fan, means to rigidly mount said fan on the vehicle at said side and forwardly of and above said shaft, said fan having an inlet at the outer side thereof and a drive shaft projecting at the inner side of the same, means to provide a driving connection between said shafts, a vertically swingable suction conduit having a lateral rear end swiveled to the side inlet of the fan and provided at its forward end with a depending intake conduit arranged to be located in front of the vehicleand provided with a bottom intake hood, said intake conduit being adjustable in length to regulate the distance of the intake hood from the ground, means to releasably retain the intake conduit in any adjusted position, means arranged for operation from the drivers seat and connected to the forward end of the suction conduit for adjustably swinging the latter up or down and correspondingly raising or lowering the intake conduit and its hood, a discharge pipe extending rearwardly from the fan, and an insect collection receptacle on the rear end of said discharge pipe, said intake conduit comprising a rigid upper section and a flexible collapsible sec- 

